Apparently, cloud integrators are really developing a thing for Europe. Appirio has been visibly building its presence there for the past two years, and local player Tquila has been growing its business at a fast clip. Now, Cloud Sherpas is expanding its footprint in the United Kingdom, with the acquisition of Stoneburn Software Services, a technology consulting and IT services firm based in London.

Terms of the cash and stock deal were not disclosed, but the transaction strengthens Cloud Sherpas' ability to deliver Google Enterprise Apps on a global scale. Right now, the integrator has several offices in the U.K., dozens of enterprise clients and more than 70 full-time employees. Over the 12 months, that number will double, the company said.

For perspective, Atlanta-based Cloud Sherpas currently employs about 700 people on three continents. Its revenue this year is projected to reach an annualized run-rate of more than $150 million. The company is a two-time Google Enterprise Partner of the Year for Google Apps. It also has high-profile international relationship with Salesforce.com and ServiceNow.

The deal also extends its expertise in numerous enterprise verticals across Europe, including retail, media, manufacturing and transportation/logistics.

This is Cloud Sherpas' eleventh acquistion.

“The U.K. and Western European cloud and Google Enterprise markets have very quickly transitioned from early adopter phase to established businesses,” says Cloud Sherpas CEO David Northington. “The timing is right for Cloud Sherpas to expand its presence in the region. Stoneburn has proven its ability to secure large enterprise clients, and we were very impressed with the team’s management and technical capabilities around Google Enterprise and cloud software in general. Approximately 10 percent of Cloud Sherpas’ revenue comes from Western Europe today, and with Stoneburn in the fold, I expect that number to increase significantly.”

Stoneburn's co-founder Ciaran Cosgrave will remain with the combined organization as vice president of the Cloud Sherpas Google Business unit for the U.K. His partner, Nazir Ul-Ghani, will stay on as vice president of U.K. sales for the division.

Heather Clancy is an award-winning business journalist specializing in transformative technology and innovation. Her articles have appeared in Entrepreneur, Fortune Small Business, The International Herald Tribune and The New York Times. In a past corporate life, Heather was editor of Computer Reseller News. She started her journalism lif...
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